Demons stay cool in season opener

KENNETT SQUARE — The summer heat was beaming on the Kennett High School tennis courts in the Blue Demons’ first match of the season. Most of the girls were affected by the mid-August sun.

Except for Emma Rosero, who kept her game as cool as the trees she was playing under.

Rosero, playing the only match in the shade, rallied from an 5-4 deficit in the opening set to win in straight sets (7-5, 6-0) over Penncrest’s Jade Phillips in the No. 1 singles match.

Her victory gave Kennett (1-0) the singles win it needed to defeat Penncrest in a 4-3 final Tuesday.

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Rosero used the heat to her advantage against Phillips. She wore out Phillips’ mental game by winning break point after break point late in the first set. Once Phillips started feeling the pressure on serve, the heat became a factor.

“I could tell she was getting tired,” Rosero said. “It was weird playing her because she was a lefty. They are a tough opponent in this game.”

Phillips and Rosero alternated points in the first eight games. In the ninth game, Phillips broke serve to take a 5-4 lead. She then had the opportunity to serve for the match. The powerful lefty gave Rosero challenges up until that point, but Rosero started playing aggressive, similar to Phillips’ serve.

“I just wanted to get the game to five all and attempt to close out the set,” Rosero said.

Rosero did just that. She broke serve and had the momentum on her side.

The sophomore didn’t let the match slip away after that. Rosero took the final nine games en route to victory.

As for her Kennett teammates, the young squad took care of business in doubles play by winning three of four matches and sending new head coach John Howanski home with his first career win.

“It’s a great feeling,” Howanski said. “We only had one week to get ready for this match, but the girls worked real hard at practice.

“I’m really surprised on how well they played today.”

Callie Beeson and Jen Kim led the Blue Demons in doubles with a straight-set win (6-2, 6-4) over Kira Panzer and Emily Everden. Beeson felt her play matched how her teammates fared in the result.

“We were nervous at first,” Beeson said. “Once play started, the nerves were gone for all of us.”

“I’m very excited we were able to win,” Rosero said. “This is a totally different squad from last year.”

The different squad is led by Howanski, who replaced the retired Jane Stoutland after 21 years coaching the Blue Demons. Kennett also lost five seniors from last year’s 5-8 team.

Howanski feels Kennett can compete with anyone if they play like they did Tuesday.

“We stayed aggressive and had that positive mentality in the deciding points,” Howanski said. “Our team is young, but we work hard. We will progress from this win.”